Index



July 30, 1929. J. H. RAND INDEX Filed April 14, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheetjwerotor'; @vms/fflmzd, 6y M 9 y 30, 1929 J. H. RAND 1,722,593

\ INDEX Filed April 14, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jwerofiov; :Twzesfilfand,q M m YMW Patented July 30, 1929.

' UNITED STATES JAMES H. RAND, 01Ev NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR,BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO REMINGTON RAND INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ACORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

INDEX.

Application filed April 14,

This invention relates to index devices of the type having movable indexholders or panels for displaying the classified subject-matter of theindexes and more particularly to that type in which the index holdersare mounted to swing in vertical planes into and out of a cabinet inwhich a plurality of such holders are arranged in juxtapositlon.

Objects of the invention are to arrange such holders to be completelyhoused within a cabinet as a protection from dust and defacement, topermit the holders to swing to an inclined position before the cabinetfor the convenient entry of index inscriptions, to arrange the holdersto move downwardly and outwardly to extended position outside thecabinet and then to open in book form, to provide an index device whichslides upwardly into the cabinet with little effort on the part of theuser, and in general to improve prior devices of this character andrender them more convenient and accessible for use.

For the purpose of illustration one concrete embodiment of the inventionis shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview;

Fig. 2 is an endelevativon showing the cabinet in vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 to enlarged scaleand showing avertical section through the book index;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view, partly in section of a detail of theparts shown in Fig. 1; r

Fig. 5 is a section on the'line 55 of Fig. 8; and i Fig. 6 is a sectionon the line 6-6 of Fig. 3; j

The embodiment of the invention shown for the purpose of illustrationcomprises a cabinet A constructed of any suitable material, preferablysheet metal, and having one side open. As" shown in the sectional viewsin Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the sheet metal parts forming the cabinet arepreferably constructed with inturned ends provided with bent marginalportions flanges. Top and bottomfmembers a and b are thus similarlyconstructed with a flange 0 and are attached to the back 0? of thecabinet by angle members 6. Ends f likewise are formed with a flange cand the forming 1922. Serial N0. 552,791.

flanges at their meeting points may be united in any suitable manner asby welding to form a finished joint. 1

Extending transversely through the cabinet adjacent the rear wall 03 andapproximately midway between the top and bottom is a rod or shaft gwhich serves as a pivot for a plurality of links h, to the free end ofwhich are pivotally mounted index holders of any desired form forswinging movement into and out of the cabinet. The links 72, arenormally maintained in vertical position within the cabinet bythe'provision of coil springs z coiled about shaft g, each having oneend in abutting relation with rear wall (Z and the .other fast in anopening j in the corresponding link (Fig. 3). Stop means for limitingthe downward swinging movement of links it is provided in the form of abar 70. To properly support shaft 9 and stop 70 and to guide the linksit in their swinging movement a plurality of narrow partitions Z areprovided adjacent the'rear wall cZof the cabinet, the shaft extendingthrough perforations therein and the stop 70' being notched therein asindicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

While any suitable or desired type of 1ndex holder may be mounted uponthe links it the preferred form is a book index devicecomprising a backm. to which a plurality of panels a are hinged in any suitable manner.

The back and panels are preferably constructed of sheet materialsuch assheet aluminum the back being of U-shape in transverse section as shownin Fig. 4 and having free edges slotted and rounded as indicated at m torovide a ivot o ening for a .P P. P

hinged connection with the panels n, which are similarly slotted androunded to receive pivots n. Adjacent the upper end of the back a pivotpin 0 is transversely disposed and connects the back to thecorresponding link it, a slot p being provided to receive'the adjacentportion of the link as the book in dex is moved to housed positionwithin the cabinet. To prevent excessive looseness or play about thepivot of the link it about the p1vot pin 0 washers or spacers 0" may beprovided upon the pivot on eitherside of the link as indicated in Fig.4. j i

The form of book index shown has two panels or leaves a hinged to thefree edges of the back end. These panels or. leaves elongate strip 7"(Fig.6) preferably of metal,

the ends of which are received and held in place by the flanges Q at thetop and bottom of the index panels as shown in Fig. 5. Upon the sideedges of strips r are mounted elongate spring clips .9 Fig. 6,preferably beht from a. single strip of sheet metal and adapted toretain under their rounded spring ends index strips or rails '15 of anysuitable or desired. type. These strips or rails may have index cards thinged thereto in a known manner as indicated in Fig. 5. To suitablyindicate the'nature of the index ma terial within the book index tabs 24may be attached to the marginal flanges q in any desired manner in aconvenient position to be used as gripsfor swinging the book index intoextended or exposed position for in spect'ing the classified indexmaterial thereon.

For convenience in using the herein described device the cabinetAhousing the same. is. preferably mounted upon the horizontal portion '0of the top of a desk B of usual construction, the top being providedwith a downwardly inclined portion w having a strip of moulding anattached thereto to-form av ledgeservingas a stop for the lower. end of.thebook indexes. For easy sliding movement over the inclined surface w,the lower portion of the back of each of the. book indexes is preferablybeveled as ind'icatedat y. V i

The bookindexes are normally'disposed in completely housed positionwithin the cabinet. A. where they are protected from dust and; injury.In use. the operator grasps the projecting tabs w of the required. indexand pulls upon the latter swinging the book index downwardly andoutwardly against the tension of' spring 2', the beveled lower end 3 ofthe back. sliding upon the inclined surface to until it .engages stop'00, the link 72; at

thesame time engaging stop 19. The book index. is now in the positionshown in Fig.

.2, and the leaves of the index now being completely outside of thecabinet may be opened to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 for theconvenient inspection of the. index material thereon or for the entryof. new data or for making changes or substituting new index cards orstrips. When theentries or changes'are completed the leaves of the bookindex are'closed and the latter is swung upwardly with the link it, verylittle effort being necessary to return it to housed position by reasonof the actioniofsprin'g'zfl.

I claim: i

1'. An index device comprising a cabinet,

an index holder normally housed withinzsaid;

cabinet, and; a rigid member lessin length than the height of theliolderpivotedat one extremity to the cabinet and at its other extremity directly to the holder, and constructed and arranged to guidethe holder when moved outwardly from the cabinet- 2. An index devicecomprising a cabinet, an' index holder-normally housed Within thecabinet, and an elongate member pivoted at one extremity to theholderadjacent to the top thereof, and at its-other extremity to theinterior of the cabinet at a point substantially midway of' the heightof the latter.

3. An index device comprising a cabinet, an index holder housedvtherein, a rigid member pivoted to said holder and said cabinetrespectively" to permit the former to be swung to a position outsidesaid cabinet, and means tending to maintain said member in position toretain said holder within said cabinet. I

'4- An index device comprising a cabinet, an index holder housedtherein, a link pivoted at its opposite ends to the upper end of theholder and to the cabinet respectively to permit the holder tobe swungto a position outside of the cablnet, yieldlng means' normally tendingtoretain the holder within the cabinet, and an inclined guide for thelower end of the holder.

5. An index comprising a cabinet having an open front, a transverseshaft adjacent to the back of the cabinet, a rigid link pivota-llymounted upon the shaft, an; index holder normally housed within thecabinet, pivot means connecting the holder with the link, and meanstending to prevent movement of the link and holder from normal position.

6. An index comprising a. cabinet having.

an open front, a substantially rigid link pivoted at one end at a point,adjacent to the rear wall of the cabinet andsubstantially midway of theheight of the latter, an index holder normally housed in uprightposition within the cabinet, and means pivotally connecting the otherend of the link.

to the upper end of the holder.

7. An index comprising a cabinet. open.

at its front, an index holder normally housed in upright position withinthe. cabinet, a link having one end 'pivotally se-' cured to the upperend of the holder, a pivot.

member connectingthe other. end of the link to the cabinet, and a springnormally tend..-

ing to prevent withdrawal of the holderfrom the cabinet.

8. An index. comprising a cabinet: openat its front, ashaft.extendingttransverselyw of the cabinet adjacent to its rear wall,a

link having an opening adjacent to one end for the passage of the shaft,a spring encircling the shaft and normally tending to hold the link insubstantially vertical position, a holder normally disposed within thecabinet, and pivot means connecting the opposite end of the link to theupper end of the holder.

9. An index comprising a cabinet having an open front, a plurality ofholders within the cabinet, a shaft extending transverse ly of thecabinet, a link corresponding to each holder, one end of the link beingpivoted to the holder and the other pivoted upon the shaft, and aplurality of coiled springs encircling the shaft, one spring beingconnected to each link and reacting upon the latter to tend to retain itwith its corresponding holder within the cabinet.

10. An index comprising a cabinet having an open front, an index holdernormal? ly positioned vertically within the cabinet a link connectingthe upper rear corner of the holder with the cabinet, and a stop memberdisposed in the path of the link and limiting movement of the upper rearcorner of the holder substantially to a quadrant of arc.

11. An index device comprising a cabinet having one open side, adownwardly inclined surface before said open side, an index holdermounted in said cabinet, guide means connecting the holder and cabinetconstructed and arranged to permit outward and downward movement of theholder through said open side of the cabinet, the lower rear portion ofsaid holder being beveled for sliding contact with said inclinedsurface, and stop means for limiting movement of the lower end of theholder over said inclined surface.

12. An index comprising a cabinet having an open front, an index holderhaving a back member, normally housed within the cabinet with its backmember substantially vertical, means connecting the upper end of theback member to the cabinet and constraining such upper end to move in anarcuate path, and stop means limiting such movement substantially at theinstantthat the upper end of the back member has reached the plane ofthe open front of the cabinet.

13. An index comprising a cabinet having a rear wall and an open front,an index holder comprising a back and a plurality of panels hingedthereto, the holder nor-' mally being housed in upright position withinthe cabinet with its back adjacent to the rear wall of the latter, meansconnecting the upper end of the back of the holder to the cabinet andguiding such upper end to move in an arcuate path, and means for guidingthe lower end of the holder in a forwardly and downwardly inclined path.

14:- An index device comprising a cabinet having an open side, aplurality of index holders each comprising a back and panels hingedthereto, said holders normally being housed in upright position withinthecabinet with their backs adjacent to the rear wall of the cabinet,and means connecting the upper end of each holden to the cabinet forguiding and controlling each holder to permit the holder to move as aunit out-of such cabinet with the bottom'of the holder moving away fromthe base of the cabinet and its top supported adjacent to and within theopen side of the cabinet, the panels being capable of swinging open upontheir hinged connections to the back of the holder when in extendedposition.

15. An index, comprising a cabinet having an open front, a supportprojecting forwardly from the front edge of the cabinet, an index holderindependent of the cabinet removably housed therein and movableoutwardly onto said support in inclined position with the lower endengaging the support, and guide means connecting the holder to thecabinet for guiding and supporting the upper end thereof.

16. An index, comprising a cabinet having an open front, a supportprojecting forcabinet, anindex holder independent of the cabinet andnormally housed in upright position therein, guide means for the upperend of the holder, and means on the holder in upright position I havinuidin and su ortin coo eration z: r z: z:

. JAMES RAND.

